Automatic stabilizer for tractors



1951 D. H. CLAYPOOL 2,540,653

AUTOMATIC STABILIZER FOR TRACTORS Filed March 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J07? f/f/Zzypoa] ATTDRN EYS Feb. 6, 1951 CLAYPOOL 2,540,653

AUTOMATIC STABILIZER FOR TRACTORS Filed March 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTD RNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT orric 2Claims.

1 This invention relates to an automatic stabilizer' for tractors and the main object of the invention "is to providea" device that will automatically' ground the ignition and stop the enfgine when the tractor is raised backward on' its "rear" wheels causingthe front wheels to leave the "ground.

' Another objectof the invention isto provide a device which is simple in construction, efficient inoperation and durable in use.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view theinvention consists of the novel details'of construction, arrangement and combination of-parts morefullyhereinafter described, claim'ed 'andillustrated in the accom- 1 "-panying drawi-ngs inwhich: Figure 1 is a side elevation-of an embodiment of the invention as applied to atractor; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig'ure 3 is a front view -thereof;

rotatable bearing plate 52. The pivot pin 54 extends throughmember 28 and plates 48 and '52 -to mount the plates for rotation with relation to -the tractor, lock washer 56 and nut 58 retaining the plates'in rotary engagement with each other.

Secured to the'plate 52 at opposite sides of the pin 54 are the outwardly inclined supports "tiihaving the vertical "portion 62 curved rearwardly to form the horizontal portion '66 on the ""free'end' of "which is secured by fasteners-68 the axle bearings iii in which the axle 72 for the ground wheel His journalled.

Secured to the plate 52'rearwardly of, but adjacent to the'upper ends of the supports 60, are

the downwardly inclined angle ironbraces 16 which'are secured to the horizontal portions '66 of the supports -69 intermediate the fasteners 68.

Figure l-is a-view-of t-he'side opposite that shown in' Figure 1;

'ofFigure 3 and Figure 6 is a detailed sectional View of the device in operation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 16 designates the rectangular shaped base plate which is secured to the tractor l2 rearwardly of the steering wheels M by means of fasteners 16.

Extending rearwardly from the plate at one end thereof is the supporting arm 18 the end of which has formed thereon a switch housing 23 the use of which will be later explained.

Formed at the center of the plate ID is the longitudinally extending rectangular shaped opening 2 1 and extending longitudinally of the plate ill across the center line of the opening 24 and mounted on the plate for oscillatory movement by hangers 26 is the shaft or rod member 28. The hangers 26 are secured to the plate 18 by fasteners 35.

Secured to the member 28 by set screws 32 are the collars 34 which are positioned within the opening 24 in engagement with-the outer edges of the opening 24. On one end of the member 28 is secured by means of a set screw 35, a collar 38 which engages the outer edge of the plate I0, and on the opposite end of the member 28 is a similar collar 40 having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined contact arm 42 welded thereto. The collar can be adjusted on the member 23 by the set screw 44.

Thus by means of the collars the member 28 is prevented from endwise movement.

The member 28 has welded thereto at 46 to the center thereof the upper circular bearing plate 48 of fifth wheel structure 50 which has engagement with the complementary shaped Secured to the front of the plate 52- at the center thereof are the outwardly and downwardly inclined braces 78 which are secured at their lower ends to the vertical portions 52 of the supports 6D.

- Reference-has'been previously made to the switch housing 26 which is grounded at 80 and provided with an insulated connector 32 which is connected to the ignition system of the tractor by the lead 84. The switch housing 2!! comprises the conductor 86 mounted on the guide pins 88a, mounted in the switch housing 28. The conductor 86 is normally urged upwardly out of engagement with the connector 82 by a spring 86a and a contact 88 is formed. on the housing wall in alignment with but opposite from the conductor 82. Mounted for engagement with the conductor 86 is the bolt 9e. lhe bolt 99 is mounted in the arm 52 and is adjustable with relation to the conductor 88 by means of nuts 92 positioned on opposite sides of the arm 42. Rearwardly of the bolt Qt, is a bolt Qfiwhich acts as a stop for arm 42 by engagement with the arm it of the plate in. The bolt $3 3 is adjustably mounted in the arm 42 by means of nut 96.

Secured to the supports by the fasteners 88 and to the tractor body i2 are chains 98 which limit the movement of the supports 60.

Many and serious accidents have occurred to the operators of tractors when the tractor has raised on its rear wheels due to the heavy drag thereon by an implement or the condition of the terrain over which the tractor is travelling and the operation of this device is intendedto eliminate the hazards accompanying and caused by such action of the tractor.

The plate 5% is secured to the tractor immediately in the rear of the steering wheels and due to the action of the fifth wheel the wheel M will follow in line with the steering wheels during the movement thereof.

Should the front wheels leave the ground the wheel is due to its oscillatory mounting will remain in engagement with the ground moving under the front wheels causing the arm 1-2 to swing downward and the bolt 9% to engage the conductor 86 grounding the ignition and killing the engine. The weight of the tractor will be immediately returned to the front wheels and before they have been raised to any great extent. The chains 98 will only function should the wheel M move forwardly too far to interfere with the proper return of the steering wheels of the tractor.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A stabilizer attachment for tractors adapted to be connected to the bottom thereof in rear of the forward wheel support, comprising an attaching plate, a wheel supporting structure and means for connecting the wheel supporting structure to the plate for pivotal movement about both vertical and horizontal axes, an arm connected to said connecting means to be pivoted fore and aft and an additional ground circuit connected with the ignition system of the tractor and adapted to be closed to shut off the tractor engine upon the engagement of the arm with the additional ground circuit, said wheel supporting structure adapted to follow the forward wheels of the tractor and to pivot forwardly as the tractor tends to be raised on its rear wheel whereby to operate the arm to close the additional ground circuit.

2. A stabilizer attachment adapted to be connected to the bottom of a tractor in rear of the forward wheel support thereof, comprising an attaching plate having bearing portions depending therefrom, a shaft journalled in the bearing portions, for oscillatory movement with regard to said plate, a plate secured to the shaft for movement therewith, a depending wheel supporting structure extending downwardly and havin a bearing plate engaging with the bottom of said last mentioned plate, a pivot pin extending throughout the plates and through the shaft whereby to permit the wheel supporting structure to caster and to pivot forwardly on the shaft, an arm extending from said shaft to be pivoted therewith, and a switch device supported on the attaching plate and adapted to be engaged by the arm to operate the same, said I switch device connected to an additional ground REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,389,488 Cholick Aug. 30, 1921 1,411,298 Osborn Apr. 4, 1922 1,436,191 Nichols Nov. 21, 1922 1,540,634 Kirchhoff June 2, 1925 

